I Became a Black Market Tycoon with an Inventory - Chapter 81

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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081-A Lifeline
81.
A local cafe in Zamboanga.
“Do you understand what it means to sell drugs in China?”
“Of course. I know at least that much.”
“You seem to think you can just slip in, rely on the 1.4 billion population, and turn a profit if you move even a little product. It doesn’t work that way. It’s not easy.”
“How would you know?”
“Working in this field, haven’t I seen people like you before? In China, if you’re caught, it’s execution. Those people—they couldn’t even find their bodies. If you want to find a body in China, you bring money. That’s the kind of place it is.”
“Then I just won’t get caught. I’ll be careful.”
“Ha. This guy’s entertaining. You’re willing to die for money?”
“No? I don’t need money. I have more than enough already.”
“Then why sell drugs in China? And in a place where you’ll die?”
“Those bastards keep messing with my country. I don’t like it, so I’m going to hit back.”
“You don’t like China interfering with your country, so you’re going to attack China? Wow—you’re the most patriotic lunatic I’ve seen in a while.”
“That’s a compliment, right?”
“High praise. I’ve never met anyone as entertaining as you. My dopamine’s already firing on all cylinders.”
“Want to work together?”
“I can’t just decide on a new job that easily. I’m skilled in this industry. If I’m going to switch, I need proper compensation.”
“Switch? I heard you were unemployed?”
“That’s… just a communication issue.”
“Forget it. Don’t waste time on petty grievances. I’ll treat you well. You focus on making the drugs—I’ll handle everything else. Deal?”
“Wow, this guy doesn’t mess around. I like it. Deal. I’ll take the offer.”
The young chemist introduced himself to me once more.
“Edward.”
“Alex. What can you make?”
“Everything. Boss—I mean, CEO. Anything you know about, anything you’ve heard of, I can make. And plenty of other things too.”
“What has the best effect?”
“Fentanyl, without question. Good effects, cheap, fast.”
“That’s an injection?”
“Yes. You inject it intravenously.”
“But isn’t it inconvenient having to stick a needle in?”
“It is inconvenient. But when you inject through the bloodstream, the effect is immediate and hits hard. That’s why real dealers prefer syringes.”
“Is there another way? Something easier to use?”
“I could make it oral, but the effect definitely drops. The digestive system interferes with some of the compounds, and it takes longer to spread. Of course, if I make it, it’s different.”
“What?”
“I mean I can make an oral drug that has effects nearly as strong as an injection.”
“Really?”
“Yes. As long as I have adequate equipment and materials.”
“Something like that would be incredible. Why haven’t you made it before?”
“Because no one’s ever asked for it. All the bosses who employed me only wanted cheaper, faster, higher volume production. No one ever wanted me to develop a new type.”
“So you’re saying you could make all that, but you didn’t because nobody asked for it?”
“Well, yes. It’s not like it just materializes on its own. You need development, testing. It takes considerable time and money. And once you make it, people copy it instantly. Nobody wanted to bear that burden.”
“But you’re capable of making it?”
“Yes. I have it all mapped out in my head.”
“Good. Then let’s proceed immediately.”
“Just like that? No hesitation?”
“We have everything we want to do. Why would we delay?”
“I really like this CEO’s style. Okay. Let’s do it.”
“But here’s the thing. I have a few minor requirements myself. Just hear me out and see if it’s possible.”
“What kind of requirements?”
“I’d like it to have strong addictive properties, clear stimulant effects, an energized feeling, increased confidence, euphoria—those kinds of sensations. But instead of injections, I want it in an easy-to-consume form. However, it shouldn’t damage the nervous system. Is that possible?”
“Hahaha. CEO, isn’t this just unreasonable demands? Classic yet modern. Flashy yet simple, refined but dynamic, cold yet warm—that kind of vibe? A healthy drug?”
“Edward. Think about it. We risked our lives and went through hell to expand into China. But if these bastards just keep using the drug and end up dead, what happens to us?”
“Pardon?”
“Our customers disappear. They need to use the drug, wake up, work hard, and keep buying from us.”
“But you said you didn’t need money earlier. That you had more than enough.”
“I still need to pay salaries. I told you—I’ll treat my people well.”
********
[Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Arrests 10 Gangster Bosses in Coordinated Sweep]
[All leaders of 10 organizations that shook Seoul arrested simultaneously.]
[“Bosses crumbling one after another.” Seoul Police conduct coordinated crackdown on organized crime.]
[10 organizations dreaming of “controlling Seoul” collapse in a single day.]
[Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announces simultaneous arrest of 10 criminal organization leaders. Vows total commitment to eradicating organized crime.]
[Cheonggang Faction leader Seo Byung-mo arrested after 8 months in hiding. Organization on verge of dissolution.]
[Cheonggang Faction boss who dominated Gangnam finally in handcuffs.]
[‘Fall of the Boss’ Seoul’s largest organizations—Cheonggang Faction, Yeongdeungpo Faction, Dongdaemun Faction—leaders arrested.]
Laughter never ceased in the office of Kim Young-jun, the Investigation Division Chief at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, as news continued to broadcast.
This morning, the Police Commissioner himself had called me in and patted my shoulder, thanking me for my hard work.
I’d been in law enforcement for a long time, but this was a first.
A private audience with the Police Commissioner.
My reputation among the police had soared.
My words—departing from the old method of unconditional suppression, prioritizing officer safety and lives—resonated deeply with the officers in the field.
They brought comfort and inspiration to the frontline police.
If the police had actively intervened in this war between violent organizations, the damage would have been incalculable.
The officers were grateful to be alive, and they directed that gratitude toward me, Kim Young-jun.
They praised me for anticipating the situation and taking precautions.
More and more officers came to respect Kim Young-jun.
For Kim Young-jun, every day had become the best moment of his life.
A quiet Korean restaurant in Gangnam.
The same place where I’d met Seo Dae-hun last time.
Today it was just the two of us.
Moon Gang-su, the Team Leader, was absent.
“Good to see you.”
“It’s been a while. Have a seat.”
His demeanor was entirely different from the overbearing attitude of last time.
He was showing consideration toward Seo Dae-hun.
“Sit down. Care for a drink?”
“I would be grateful to accept.”
Kim Young-jun, the Investigation Division Chief, offered a pitcher of liquor, and Seo Dae-hun extended his glass with both hands.
Glug, glug, glug.
As the glass filled, Seo Dae-hun turned his head and drained it in one gulp.
Seeing this, Kim Young-jun laughed and offered him another.
“Haha. Watching you drink like that puts me in a good mood. Have another.”
“Yes, sir.”
Seo Dae-hun, having received his drink, picked up the pitcher and asked respectfully.
“Would it be appropriate if I poured one for you as well?”
“Of course, of course. Now I’m honored to receive a drink from Chairman Seo himself. Kaha!”
Kim Young-jun, the Investigation Division Chief, was genuinely pleased that he’d accepted Seo Dae-hun’s offer.
He could have let his pride get in the way, thinking what kind of police officer listens to a gangster, or questioning why a gangster was doing police work, and stormed out.
In fact, Kim Young-jun had felt that impulse too.
The moment he heard the proposal, his mood had soured.
Yet the reason he remained seated was because Seo Dae-hun’s proposal had been quite compelling.
Aside from the fact that it came from a gangster, it was work that a division chief couldn’t fault.
All it required was slightly delaying dispatch in the name of ensuring police safety.
It was simple.
If things weren’t properly resolved, the police could step in then.
But there was no need for police intervention.
It was clean.
Seo Dae-hun handled matters exceptionally well.
I hadn’t even known a fight had occurred.
Gangsters fighting among themselves in a soundproofed underground club, and that was the end of it.
He’d handled it so cleanly that even the media caught no whiff of it.
Though there were many injured given how brutal the fight had been,
he’d even set up a separate temporary shelter to treat them there.
Normally, when a patient with stab wounds from a machete appears, a police report is filed.
I’d been worrying about how to handle that aspect, but he’d anticipated even that and taken precautions.
The more I looked at it, the more satisfying and impressive the handling was.
It was a violation of medical law, but one could argue it was an emergency situation.
That much deserved understanding.
And most decisively.
I brought in ten Criminal Organization bosses alive.
Along with evidence that could prove their crimes.
With that evidence, there’s no way they escape.
A Criminal Organization boss without connections to politics or the police? Does that exist?
Of course they have them.
But a boss of a dismantled Criminal Organization is nothing more—and nothing less—than a common thug.
No one looks after a boss whose organization has fallen apart.
Those days of receiving special treatment at the Police Station are gone.
They’re treated like common criminals now.
“When are you planning to release those men you’re keeping at the shelter?”
Kim Young-jun asked casually.
“Since the war is winding down, I think it’s fine to release them now. We didn’t want to keep them locked up either, but if they started fighting again, the conflict would drag on too long, so we had no choice but to hold them temporarily. I apologize.”
“No, you did well. It’s better to settle these wars quickly. And I’m grateful you even treated the injured ones. That took a lot of worry off my shoulders.”
“They’re precious lives, so of course we had to save them.”
“By the way, have you completely settled Seoul now?”
“It’s hard to say everything is settled, but we’ve secured control of most areas.”
“Impressive. You’ve taken Seoul without spilling a single drop of blood.”
“It’s all thanks to your help, sir. I’m deeply grateful.”
“Ha ha ha. ‘Deeply grateful’? Are we really that formal with each other? I think of you as my younger brother, but you don’t think of me that way?”
“That’s not true. From the moment I first saw you, I felt a closeness like you were my older brother.”
“Is that so? Then how about we become sworn brothers right here?”
“I’d love that. Thank you for the honor.”
To Kim Young-jun, Seo Dae-hun was like a lifeline dropped from heaven.
A person he couldn’t afford to lose.
A person he had to hold onto firmly.
Seo Dae-hun had excellent planning skills, the execution ability to carry them out, and clean work ethic.
That alone would be enough, but now he’s the boss of the nation’s largest Criminal Organization, controlling Seoul.
He’s become a figure no one can touch carelessly.
Kim Young-jun thought that becoming sworn brothers with Seo Dae-hun would bring many advantages.
Just doing what Seo Dae-hun asks would guarantee promotion.
Advancement was assured.
If he played his cards right, he could even aim for Police Commissioner.
Seo Dae-hun is at his lowest point right now.
He needs to commit to a full investment.
Kim Young-jun poured soju and whiskey in equal parts into a glass.
“This is called ‘brotherhood liquor.’ Once we drink this, we’re brothers from today on.”
“I’ve already been treating you as my older brother.”
The two exchanged a meaningful glance.
They drained the glass completely, not leaving a single drop.
“Ahhhh~~ That’s good.”
“That’s truly wonderful.”
“But what about Gang-su now?”
Kim Young-jun casually brought up the topic of Moon Gang-su, the Team Leader of the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency Violent Crimes Unit.
Moon Gang-su had introduced them, but the implication was clear—Moon Gang-su was no longer needed.
If he continued to act out of line, it could become a headache.
“I promised Moon Gang-su that we’d go to Seoul together. A promise must be kept.”
“You’re saying you’ll bring Gang-su up to Seoul?”
“I’d be grateful if you could help with that, hyung.”
“Bringing him up isn’t difficult… but do we really need to go that far?”
Kim Young-jun asked with evident displeasure.
“I must keep my promise to bring him to Seoul. However, maintaining that position won’t be our responsibility—it will be Moon Gang-su’s. We can’t possibly cover for him if he falls due to his own mistakes, can we?”
Kim Young-jun understood Seo Dae-hun’s meaning: even if they were to remove Moon Gang-su, they’d first bring him up, then remove him to avoid complications. He laughed with satisfaction.
“Right. We can’t do anything about his own mistakes. Hahaha.”
*******
Temporary Shelter in Chungcheong Province
Kim Nam-gi was studying the biography of Seo Dae-hun in his room.
The more I read, the more moved I become.
I didn’t understand it on my first read, but the deeper meanings reveal themselves with each reading.
The passages are filled with sentences worth pondering and revisiting.
Yet despite this, I didn’t perform well on the recent exam.
I won’t make excuses about the test being difficult.
It was entirely my own shortcomings and lack of effort.
I should have studied harder back in school.
Regret washed over me.
I left my room and headed to the study room in the basement.
There, people gathered to study and could receive help.
Those who had studied back in school kindly explained the material to me.
So whenever my studies weren’t going well, I’d go down to the basement to study with them.
On the way down, I could see all sorts of people.
Some learning MMA. Some building their bodies. Some learning foreign languages. Some learning first aid. Some learning economics and money laundering. Some studying law.
All were programs supported by the Dae-hoon Faction.
Once I pass the exam on the biography of Seo Dae-hun, I plan to study MMA and foreign languages.
I passed through them and entered the basement study room.
The study room was already heated with the fervor of learning.
Several people formed groups and engaged in discussions.
“Have you read that part?”
“What?”
“Chapter 7, Verse 12. ‘Loyalty is born from trust and dies when counting money.’ I was really moved by that part.”
“For me, it’s Chapter 4, Verse 8. ‘Money gathers people, but dividing it separates them.’ I really resonated with that.”
Then a large man joined their conversation.
“You punk kids. If you’re a real man, you should be reading Chapter 2, Verse 3 of the scripture: 【After the fight ended, the hyung removed his blood-stained shirt and declared, “This is my formal wear, and the world is my stage”】 That’s what real literature looks like. What’s this petty obsession with money?”
“But why do you always leave out the part after that?”
“Huh? The part after?”
“When the hyung said, ‘This is my formal wear, and the world is my stage,’ Geun-su hyung standing next to him said, ‘Hyung, at least wipe off the blood before you say that.'”
“Right. Exactly. Anyway, I’m Chapter 2, Verse 3.”
Everyone diligently studied the biography of Seo Dae-hun.
They didn’t stop at merely reading and memorizing repeatedly—they sought out hidden meanings and deeper significance.
Through passionate discussions, they poured out their own feelings and emotions,
and listened earnestly to one another’s perspectives.
In this way, while building common ground, they acquired diverse viewpoints.
And so the people gathered at the Temporary Shelter were growing into organization members who pledged absolute loyalty to Seo Dae-hun.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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